Package conveyer for bread-wrapping machines



Dec. 24, 1929. F. FARMER PACKAGE CONVEYER FOR BREAD WRAPPING MACHINES Filed Sept. 24. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet Dec. 24, 1929.

F. FARMER PACKAGE CONVEYER FOR BREAD WRAPPING MACHINES Filed Sept. 24. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet lNV OR 4 a eg A TORNEY Patented n... 24, 1929- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRED BARKER, OI BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO ERICA! ncmn &

Y FOUNDRY COMPANY, A CORPORATION 01 m JERSEY PACKAGE CONVEYER FOB BREAD-WRAPPING momma Application'flled September 84, 1828. Serial Io. 807,978.

This invention relates to an improvement in package conveyers for wrapping machines. It is particularly designed and adapted for use in connection with machines for wraping loaves of bread and other similar articles H1 waxed paper, or with ordinary gummed paper.

In such a machine it is common to provide conveyer means having pusher members which operate to push a Wrapped package along a runway to suitable sealing means. It is desirable that the pusher members be disengaged from the package as soon as in the range of action of the sealing means, so that the package will thereafter be pushed at a slower rate of speed past the sealing means by the pressure of the packages behind; since this makes it possible to use shorter sealing elements, and the machine is thus rendered less bulky and wasteful of floor space. However, in such a machine, at the end of arun or when the machine is stopped for any other reason, a number of packages are left in the sealing chamber where they are likely to be injured by the heat of the sealing means or left to spoil. It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide suitable means in a machine of this type for readily clearing the sealing chamber of packages, without the delay and loss of time resulting from laborious hand removal of packages from the sealing chamber.

Still another object is to provide in these machines, for the disengagement of the package pushing members from the packages in such a way that said members will not scrape or mar the surface of the package wrapper.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations which will be hereinafter fully described and then set forth in the hereunto appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, with the main frame of the wrapping machine omitted to show the parts behind, of

a package conveyer embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, partly broken awa Fig. 3 is a detail view on a large scale of a part of the machineshown in Fig. 1, showing1 the operation of the pusher members; an

Fig. 4 is a detail front elevation of part of the mechanism shownin Fi 2. 1

In carrying the invention into efiect, there is provided a runway for packages, a plurality ofv pusher members, mechanism for causing said members to push the packages part of the length of said runway and then to disengage the packages so that the packages will be pushed more slowly along the remainder of the runway by the pressure of the packages behind, and means operable at will to cause said members to ush the packages along the remainder of the runway for the purpose of clearing same, when operation of the machine is discontinued. In the best constructions, there will also be provided sealing means adjacent said remainder of the runway for sealing the disengaged packages. The best constructions will alsoincludemeans for rearwardly retracting said members from possible embodiments of the same. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to "the precise details of the structure shown and described.

Referring to the drawings, pusher members 5 are clamped in pairs onto shafts 6, which are rotatably mounted in bearings 7 attached to the endless conveyer chains 8 and 9 at equal intervals along the same. The conveyer chains 8 and 9 run over rear sprockets 10 and 11 and over front s rockets 12 and 13, the rear sprockets being xedly mounted on a drive shaft 14, while the front sprockets are rotatably mounted on a shaft 15. Drive shaft 14 is loosely carried by brackets 16 and 17, which are attached to a cross bar 18 supported by the main frame 19 of the bread wrapping machine. The sprocket 20, secured to the drive shaft 14, is driven by means of chain 21 from the main drive shaft of the bread wrapping machine, as shown. The shaft 15 is carried by the bearings 22 and 23 attached to bars 24 and 25 supported by the main frame 19. Bars 24 and 25 carry cross bar 26 which serves to support the shifting block for a movable cam track, to be hereinafter l l i P d d e ackage wrappe 1n waxe paper, is delit iared froni another part of the machine onto the runway 27, in the position shown at the left of Fig. 1, and from there the package is pushed by the pusher members 5 into suitable heated sealing elements 28 and 29 extending along both sides of the runway. These heating elements are held by flat springs 30 attached to plates 31 carried by the adjustable brackets 32 on rods 33 fastened to the main frame 19, and operating to yieldingly press the heating elements against the waxed wrappers of the packages.

To control the position of the pusher members on the conveyer chains and thus control the movement of the packages along the runway, arms 34, which are attached to the cross shafts 6, are provided at the outer ends with rollers 35 which engage suitable relatively stationary cam rails as they are advanced by the movement of the conveyer chains 8 and 9. As the pusher members start along the lower run of the conveyer chains, the rollers 35 enter between the lower stationary cam rail 36 and an upper stationary cam rail 37. This rail 37 is provided at its rear end with an upwardly curved cam rail 38, which is adjustable lengthwise of rail 37 to provide for different lengths of packages. The cam rail 36 is supported by the brackets 39 and 49 and the cam rail 37 is supported by attachment to the under side of the cross bar 18 supported by the main frame 19. The bar 24 carries at its under side bracket 42 (Figs. 1 and 2), supporting sliding rods 43 and 44, which carry at their ends a plate 45 to which is attached the movable lower cam rail ,46 (Figs. 3 and 4). This rail 46 is provided with an adjustably inclined tip 47 which carries a loosely mounted roller 48 to operate the sliding rods 43 and 44. The rod 44 has secured to it a clamp 49 which is connected by the link 50 with a hand lever 51 on stud 52 in bearing 53 attached to the frame 19. A block 54, sliding on cross bar 26, carries the movable upper guide rail 56, and this block is connected by the bar 55 with the hand lever 51 for simultaneous actuation with block 49.

.In the operation of the machine, the mem bers 5, while on the upper run of the conveyer chain rests in a horizontal position on a cross rod 57 secured by bracket 58 to the chains 8 and 9. As the pusher members approach the rear sprockets 10 and 11, the rollers 35 on the arms 34 engage the inclined guide rail 59, thereby swinging t? members 5 into an .the rollers 35 erected position at right angles to the chains, in which position the members remain as they pass around the rear sprockets being so held y reason of engagement of the roller 35 with the concentrically arranged rails 59 and 60 are made fast to the bearings 17 of the shaft 14.

After leaving the concentric cam rail 60, are engaged above and below by and pass between the straight cam rails 36 and 37, which hold the pusher members 5 in perpendicular position with res ect to the conveyer chains, and thus cause them to push the packages P a partof the length of said runway into the range of action of the sealing elements. At this point, means are provided for causing the pusher members to disengage the packages in order to rmit the packages to pass relatively slowly by the eating elements, b reason of the pressure of the ackages de 'vered behind them. It is noted that if the packages were pushed past the heating elements by direct engagement of the pusher members, it would be necessary to make the heating elements quite long in order that the packages might be exposed thereto for the necessary period of time.

Accordingly, a curved cam piece 61 is attached to one of each pair of pusher members and is positioned so as to engage the roller 48 on the inclined ti 47 of the cam rail 46. The movement of this veyer chains causes the same to engage the roller 48 near its upper end, which results in rearwardly retracting pusher member 5 from the rear surface of the-package P. Continued movement of the cam iece causes the same to be dragged over t e roller 48 until the roller 62 engages with the inclined cam surface of the tip 47 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The roller 62 thereafter follows the horizontal portion of the cam rail 47 and enters upon the cam rail 46, which leads it onto the circular cam track 64 around the front sprockets 12 and 13. As the roller 62 leaves the track 64, one of the cross rods 57 arrives in position to support the pusher members in horizontal position on the upper run of the conveyer chains.

As another package is delivered between the heating elements by the next pair of pusher members, the first package is pushed by the same into the position P (Fig. 3), and so on until in the position P", the package is finally pushed beyond the heating elements upon the delivery belt 66 running over pulley 67 on shaft 68, and serving to carry the package to the deliverypoint.

In order to clear out the packages which would ordinarily remain between the heating elements on stopping the machine, or at the end of a run, means are provided for maintaining the pusher members in engagement with the pac ages until they have passed becam rail 60. Cam

cam piece by the con yond the heating elements to the position 1". This clears the portion of the runway between the heating elements of all pa To this end, be hand lever 51 is pulled outward to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, thereby moving the roller 48 and the movable cam rails 46 and 47 out of the path of the cam piece 61 and the roller 62, so that the pusher members can remain in a perpendicuar position with t to the conveyer chains. At the same time the movable upper guide rail 56, which is in alignment with the stationary cam rail 37, is also moved laterally by the hand lever 51 to a position close to the cam ,piece 38 (Fig. 4), into the path of the rollers 35. The rollers 35, controlling the position of the pusher members, will then be compelled to pass between the rails 36 and 56, thereby maintaining the pusher members in engagement with the packages along the entire length of the runway, to push the packages through the sealing means and beyond the runway onto the delivery belt 66.

In order to prevent marring of the package wrapper, the pusher members are rearwardly retracted from the package. after same has been delivered as aboveto the delivery belt 66, by means of a stationary roller 71 which engages the cam piece 61 and thus causes the rearward and upward movement of the pusher members shown in dotted lines at the right of Fig. 3. When the cam piece'61 has been pulled its entire length over the roller 71, the roller 62 enters the circuit:- track 6 and the pusher members are guided into their resting, position on the cross rod 57, as already described. The stationary roller 71 and the circular track 64 are both supported by bracket 7 2 from the main frame of the machine.

On release of the hand lever 51, parts actuated by its movement are returned to their former position by springs 74 and 75. It is noted that in the construction described, the machine may be turned backwards by hand in the course of adjustment or the roller 62 will follow the circular tii'ck 64 and. will then either run downward over roller 71 or horizontal on guide rail 46, in accordance with the position of hand lever 51.

To prevent the lower runs of the conveyer chains 8 and 9 from sagging, which would interfere with uniform action of the pusher members. these runs are supported by rails 76 and 77, the rail 76 being fastened to brackcts 7 8 and 42, and the rail 77 being fastened to brackets 39 and 79.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a runway for packages, of pusher members, mechanism for causing said members topush the packages part of the length of said runway and then to disengage the packages, and means operable at will to cause said members to push the packages along the remainder of the runway to clear the same.

2. The combination with a runway for packages, of pusher members, mechanism for causin said members to push the packages part 0 the length of said runway and then to disengage the packages, means operable at will to cause said members to push the packages along the remainder of the runway to clear the same, and means adjacent said remainder of the runway for-sealing the packages. a

3. The combination with a runway for packages, of pusher members, mechanism for causing said members to push the packages part of the length of said runway and then to disengage the packages, means operable at will to cause said members to push the packages along the remainder of the runway to clear the same, and heated means for sealing waxed packages positioned adjacent said runway to operate on the disengaged packages.

4. The combination with a runway for packages. of pusher members, mechanism for causing said members to push the packages part of the length of said runway and then to disengage the packages, means operable at will to cause said members to push the packages along the remainder of the runway to clear the same, and means for thereafter rearwardly retracting said members from the package@ 5. The combination with a runway for packages, of pusher members, mechanism for causing said members to push the packages part of the length of said runway and then to disengage the packages, and means operable at will to cause said members to push the packages along the remainder of the runway to clear the same, said mechanism including means for, rearwardly retracting said members from the packages.

6. The combination with a runway for packages, of pusher members, mechanism for causing said members to push the packages part of the length of said runway and then to disengage the packages, and means operable at will to cause said members to push the packages along the remainder of the runway to clear the same, said means including a movable cam rail.

7. The combination with a runway for packages, of pusher members, mechanism for causing said members to push the packages part of the length of said rimway and then to disengage the packages, and means operable at will to cause said members to push the packages along the remainder of the runway to clear the same, said means including a movable cam rail operative in one position thereof to maintain said members in engagement with the packages along said remainder of the runway.

8. The combination with a runway for packages, of pusher members, mechanism for causing said members to push the packages part of the length of said runway and then to disengage the packages, and means operable at will to cause said members to push the packages along the remainder of the runway to clear the same, said means including a movable cam rail and arms connected with each of said members coacting with the cam rail in one position thereof to maintain the members in engagement with the packages along said remainder of the runway.

9. The combination with a runway for v of pusher members, mechanism for push the packages runway and then to and means operable packages, causing said members to part of the length of said disengage the packages,

at will to cause said members to push the packages along the remainder of the runway to clear the same, said mechanism including cams connected to said members for movement therewith and relatively stationary means coacting with said cams.

10. The combination with a runway for packages, way, pusher members, mechanism for causing said members to successively push spaced packages along the runway into the range of action of the sealing means and then to disengage the same, whereby the packa es are normally pushed at a reduced rate 0 speed past.

the sealing means by pressure of the packages behind, and means operable at willto cause said members to remain in engagement with the packages while pushing the same past said sealing means.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

FRED FARMER.

of sealing means along said run- 

